1952 The old Bingham granary, S. side; Jay, Joyce, David and Faye Montgomery.

THE GRANARY

The granary was built for Erastus Bingham in the 1870s with burnt bricks from Sam Gates Brickyard. The fieldstone foundation is three feet high protecting the bricks from moisture and rain splash. The lower level of the granary is a root cellar with a six foot height floor to ceiling and rock walls. Inga Mills wrote that she spent many hours in this cellar cutting up spuds for planting in about 1906.[1] The upper level was used to store wheat and other grains.

When Brigham Young deemed it safe to leave the fort in 1854 he counseled the leaders to take a lot in Ogden as he was eager to build up Ogden. Erastus Bingham secured property on 23rd and Madison where he built a home, still retaining the farm on 2nd Street. He took a second wife in 1857, Mehitable Sawyer Hall, and a third wife in 1862, Emma Nye Wilson. In Ogden Erastus served as bishop of the First Ward until 1868 when he was released from ecclesiastical and civic responsibilities because of his age and health; he was 68 years old.[2]

In the 1870 census Erastus is listed on the farm on 2nd Street with his third wife and their 7 year old son, Warren Bingham, and Emma’s 16 year old son, Nye Osborn, who helped with the farm.[3]

Erastus had a granary built in the 1870s when he was in his seventies. The size of the granary is 20×16 feet. The cabin Erastus lived in was 24×16 feet. Since the granary has two levels it actually had more floor space than his cabin and indicates that Erastus supervised an affluent and busy farm. The Lynne Ward history recorded that the 1870s was a prosperous decade for farms and orchards on 2nd Street. It was also a decade of political, religious and social conflict between the gentile newcomers and the Mormons, and the key issue of conflict was polygamy.

Erastus’ first wife, Lucinda Gates, died in 1874. In the 1880 census Erastus 83 lived on the farm with his second wife, Mehitable Sawyer Hall, age 73. Mehitable, or “Aunt Hitty” as she was known to all, served as the neighborhood midwife. There was also a 20 year old domestic servant and a 14 year old grandson, Charles Boss, living with them.[4] Erastus died in the log cabin in 1882, the same year that the “Edmunds Bill” was passed in the congress of the United States. The Edmunds Bill was designed for the oppression of polygamy in the territories of the United States.[5]

LOCAL POLYGAMY

Luman Andros Shurtleff, 1807-1884

Luman Shurtleff (1807-1884) drew two log houses into Bingham’s Fort in 1853 for his wives Melissa and Altamira (see chronological history 1853 for more details). On January 1, 1853 Brother Shurtleff preached at Ogden Hole on the fall of man, his resurrection and his eternal exaltation… In the evening he spoke on the equality of polygamous wives, each belonging to the same man, and showed that they would be exalted by their obedience, faithfulness and their good works and not on account of their being first or second in marriage to their husbands. [6]

Erastus Bingham Jr.(1822-1906) bought a farm in Slaterville located between Mill Creek and the Weber River that had 2 houses on it. Olive, his first wife, and her children moved into one house and Susan, his second wife, and her children moved in the other. In 1860 a flood came and washed the first house away, but fortunately the second house was undamaged. They were thankful it was saved because besides their furniture they had 300 bushels of wheat stored in it.[7]

Willard Bingham (1830-1913) married Genet Gates, daughter of Sam Gates, in 1853 in Bingham’s Fort and Amanda Snow in 1854. Amanda taught at the Bingham School on 2nd Street.[8]

Sam Gates (1804-1877) married his first wife Lydia Downer in Michigan in 1830 and Martha Waite in 1858 in Utah. Both wives and children lived on 2nd Street in two separate houses.[9]

Robert E. Baird (1817 -1875) immigrated from Ireland and married his wife Hannah in Pennsylvania in 1840. They converted to the Mormons and moved to Nauvoo where Robert became one of the “adopted sons” of Heber C. Kimall. In 1847 Robert entered the Salt Lake Valley with the first company driving a wagon for Heber C. Kimball. He settled in the Weber Precinct on a Lemon Survey farm at 2nd Street and 1000 West in 1851. In 1857 and 1858 he married Jane and Mary Hadley, sisters; he had 22 children. Over the first 30 years here his occupation was listed as tailor, farmer and Public Speaker. From c. 1862 to 1875 he served as branch president of the Lynne district. [10]

Robert E. Baird house at 2nd and 1000 West; the frame structure enclosed the original log cabin; notice that 2nd St. is a dirt road; house demolished when Utah General Depot established; photo courtesy of Frank Layman.

Daniel Francis Thomas (1826-1890) lived next to Robert E. Baird. His polygamous persecution is recorded in the History of the Lynne Ward as follows:

1888 – In the first district Court of Ogden, May 31, 1888, Bishop Daniel F. Thomas was sentenced by Judge Henderson to 3 months in prison in the Utah Penitentiary, to pay a fine of $300 having been convicted of so-called unlawful co-habitation. The bishop felt very much depressed in spirit over his incarceration and his health became much impaired by his confinement. Daniel F. Thomas, the 1st bishop of the Lynne Ward, was born April 13, 1826, at Pennyrall in the parish of Llangfyhandelararth (Wales).

1890 – Bishop Daniel F. Thomas died suddenly at Lynne on Wednesday July 30, 1890, while working in the field about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. He was overcome by the heat and died a few minutes afterwards. He had been complaining a little for some time. Daniel Francis Thomas, bishop of Lynne Ward, was born Ap. 13, 1826 at Pennyall in the parish of Llangfyhandclararth, Camarthenshire, S. Wales. At the age of 20 years he becme a convert to Mormonism through the preaching of Dan Jones and Thomas Jarney, and he was baptized May 16, 1847. In 1848 he was ordained to the lesser priesthood and in 1849 to the Melchezidek priesthood. Since that time he has remained a faithful and zealous worker for the cause of his Redeemer and emigrating to America, he crossed the plains in an ox and team 1855 and located in Bigh Cottonwood Canyon, SL County. He married Mary Margaret Langlois at Ogden City, November 24, 1856, which companionship lasted eight years when his wife died leaving five children. In 1866 he married Gustava (Stova) Ohlsson. When the Lynne Ward was organized in 1877 he was made bishop of the same, which position he held until he died, July 30, 1889, of sunstroke in his field at Lynne. He was the father of 20 children and had 15 grandchildren living when he died. As An early settler in the Territory of Utah he assisted in opening roads, making ditches and was a genuine pioneer in every respect. During the 14 years he presided as bishop over Lynne Ward his administration gave entire satisfaction. The circle of friends extended not only to those of his own faith but to all with whom he associated who respected and reverenced him. Deseret News 41:232. (No mention of 3rd wife Sarah Yeman)

Cabin of Daniel F. Thomas was located on the site of building 10A of DDO; it was part of the DDO pioneer museum.

William Ruffus Roger Stowell (1822-1901)

William Rufus Rogers Stowell (1822-1901) moved into Bingham’s Fort in June 1855 where he met and married his third wife Sophronia Kelly. He farmed in the BF District until 1862. His sisters were also married into polygamy in the 1850s to William Howard Perry.

For the Stowells, and for most polygamists, all was well until 1882 when the “Edmunds Bill” was passed in the congress of the United States. Stowell wrote: “It [the Edmunds Bill] was designed for the suppression of polygamy in the territories of the United States and was an act of special legislation against the Latter-day Saints. This, and subsequent legislation of a similar character, produced great changes among he Latter-day Saints.”[11]

What kind of changes? Changes that caused much suffering among the people in Utah. Many heads of families were fined and imprisoned. To avoid these unjust punishments, others went into voluntary exile. The separation of large families resulted in poverty, destitution and suffering.[12]

In 1888 W. R. R. Stowell was tired and worn out running from the officers of the law for two years to avoid fine and imprisonment. He concluded to go home (to Ogden), give himself up to the officers of the law and stand trial under the indictments that had been filed against him for two years. He did this knowing that he would then be at liberty to sell his property and leave the country.

“I arrived in Ogden the latter part of June 1888. I learned that it was a favorable time, as Judge Henderson was quite lenient with cases of co-habitation. I gave myself up the 25th of June and was put under bonds of $2000. I had my trial on the 30th of June. When I came into court, my case was the first for trial. Judge Henderson, in a very friendly way asked ‘guilty or not guilty?’ In answer I replied that I would like to know what I am expected to plead to? The clerk then read the indictment in which were three counts against co-habitation. I plead guilty to the first count. The Judge inquired whether my families were living together or separate. I replied that they were living separate. For a time the Judge was engaged in conversation with my counsel, Esquire Rolap. After consultation the Judge said my sentence was to pay a fine of $200 and costs $33.40; a total cost $233.40. Soon after the marshall asked me when I could pay my fine. I replied in a few days. He told me I was at liberty to go and come and pay my fine when I could. The 2nd of July I paid the fine.”

W. R. R. Stowell sold his property in Ogden and on January 21, 1889 started for Mexico on the D&RG Railway.[13]

Levi James Taylor married Nancy Jane Gates, daughter of Sam Gates, in 1871. She died in childbirth in 1872. He then married her dear friend and niece, Genet Flora Bingham in 1873 and her sister Josephine Bingham in 1874. These sisters were grandaughters to Erastus Bingham Sr. and Sam Gates.

In 1888, Levi James was among those sent to the Utah State Penitentiary for polygamy. He wrote in his journal that while in the prison he was visited one night in a dream by his dead first wife, Nancy Jane. This event gave him great comfort during that difficult period.[14]

Nancy Jane Gates taught at Lynne School in 1868 (see chronological history 1868); she married Levi Taylor in 1871.

Walter S. Crane: The last person to enter into a polygamous marriage on 2nd Street was Walter S. Crane. He married his third wife, widow Mary Melling Stone, in 1889, a year before The Manifesto.

THE MANIFESTO

The “1890 Manifesto”, sometimes simply called “The Manifesto”, is a statement which officially disavowed the practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Signed by church president Wilford Woodruff in September 1890, the Manifesto was a response to mounting anti-polygamy pressure from the United States Congress which by 1890 had unincorporated the church, escheated its assets to the U. S. federal government, and imprisoned many prominent polygamist Mormons.

The Manifesto was a dramatic turning point in the history of the LDS Church. It officially prohibited church members from entering into any marriage prohibited by the law of the land and made it possible for Utah to become a U.S. state.[15]

Rachelle Montgomerysaid

Hi Anna! I have really enjoyed reading through this and learning about the history of the fort. I just noticed in the 1929 photo I think it is supposed to read that the Mills barn is to the right. Good job!